policy_6-18

STAFF LEAVE

Rationale

The granting of leave to staff is
authorised under the Employment contracts. Discretionary leave with or
without pay may be considered and determined from time to time by the
Board of Trustees.

Purpose

To state guidelines for applications for short, long-term and personal discretionary leave by staff.

To state procedures for the administration of leave.

Guidelines

Entitlement to Leave of Absence -
Staff are entitled to leave of absence, with or without pay, as set out
in their employment contract.

2. Discretionary Leave

(a) Short Term Leave
(1-3 days) - Short term leave applications should be made to the
Principal for consideration. Applications should be made with a clear
statement of the reasons for the request. The Principal at their
discretion may approve short term leave.

(b) Long Term Leave – (> 3 days) may be considered. The application must include a clear statement of the reasons for the request.

-All
requests for long term leave should be put in writing to the B.O.T
giving reasonable notice (reasonable notice for long term leave is
considered to be at least one full term in advance).

(c) Personal Leave
– emergency leave required due to an event in a staff members personal
life that requires them to be absent from work, leave may be short term
or long term.

-The
B.O.T realises that personal circumstances may drive the need for staff
absence and that these absences may occur at very short notice. The
B.O.T delegates approval of personal leave to the Principal.

3. It is imperative that reasonable notice be given where possible.

4.
The leave request should be discussed with the Principal where
necessary before formal application is made. The following factors will
be considered:

(a) Whether it is in the interests of the school.

(b) Any previous leave granted to the applicant.

(c) Whether relieving staff is available.

5.
Staff are advised to seek indicative approval for leave of absence
prior to making any financial commitment. This indicative approval can
be based on approximate dates of leave of absence. The B.O.T will honour
any indicative approval so long as the final dates applied for are not
significantly different to the indicative dates. Requests for indicative
approval are to be in writing as well.

6.
The granting of discretionary leave is not necessarily automatic and
may be granted with conditions attached, and requests for leave for
periods longer than a year are unlikely to be granted.

7. The B.O.T will approve leave of absence on a first come first serve basis based on the initial date of the request.

8.
The B.O.T will, under normal circumstance only approve leave of absence
for one staff member only for any given period of time.

9. If a leave application is refused by the B.O.T. this should be in writing stating the reasons for declining the request.

10. The Board of Trustees will consider any dispute of interest regarding matters of leave.

11. A record of all leave granted is to be maintained by the Principal or other designated person/s.